Week #11- Validation Testing: Bringing Our Prototype to Life

Bringing the Prototype to Life

This week was all about turning ideas into action. We crafted a phone stand that wasn’t just functional—it had personality. It could express emotions, set boundaries, and even throw in a little drama. The process involved sketching, testing, and tweaking until we had a prototype that could "communicate" through movement, making us think, “This is really coming together!”

Lights, Camera, Action!

With the prototype ready, we filmed various movements to understand how users would react. Each action—a shake, a lean, or a dramatic collapse—was designed to evoke specific emotions like empathy or curiosity. The goal was to test which movements best connected with users and aligned with what we wanted to convey. By the end, we had a set of videos ready to gather valuable feedback.

a photo from one of the validation tests

The Moment of Truth: User Validation

The highlight of the week was showing the videos to teens aged 15-18 and hearing their thoughts. Their reactions were as insightful as they were diverse:

• The Shake was seen as a call for help, evoking empathy and a desire to assist.

• The Leaning Back movements were polarizing—some felt they set clear boundaries, while others found them frustrating or unnecessary.

• The Collapse was the showstopper, sparking strong emotions like shock, sadness, and even protectiveness.

These responses showed us just how much impact small movements can have, creating an emotional connection between the product and the user.

Looking Ahead

This week taught us that subtle design choices can evoke big feelings. We’re taking all the feedback to refine the prototype and make it even more engaging. Next week, we’ll keep building on this momentum—because we’re just getting started!

Stay tuned—there’s more to come!